The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-05-07

lie came often after tnat, no doubt
with the hope of charming imprisoned
soldi from our purses to his pocket, al
though / think Aunt Betsey's weird
Italian had also fascination for him.
He certainly had a fascination for us.
When he failed to appear for day or
two, we sought him, under pretext of
visiting an old curiosity shop in the
same street.
We grew fond of him; he made a
oasis of human interest for us in the
desert of that crowded city,-and such
a sad old city!-where we were such
total strangers.
One day we called at the stump-de-
pot, but the establishment was closed,
and Filippo not to be found. TO our
anxious inquiries among group of
children, Non sol, was the only re-
ply,
We returned again and again, and
looked for him in all sorts of by places,
until at last our fidelity was rewarded.
In the church at St. Carlo we sat listen
ing to the music, when l called Aunt
Betsy's attention to a man bowling be-
fore the altar until his forehead touch
ed the floor, praying, crossing himself
with the most rapt piety. l thought l
had never seen a more devout wor-
shipper. When he raised his handsome
face, and we recognized Filippo's step
father, we restrained ourselves with
difficulty from bouncing upon him in
the midst of his devotions, and demand
ING the whereabouts of ourpet When
he left, we followed, and overlook him
on the steps.
"Where's FilippoP" gasped my aunt.
In response, he poured forth flood
of musical speech, which seemed all
vowels, and completely swamped us.
At last he toned down. Did not the
most benefcent signora and the most
beautiful signorina knowP Poor Flip.
po was sick! No doctor, no medicine,
no food, because he-most unhappy
most unfortunate-had not a soldc
wherewith to buy. Would the signora
most angelic, pity poor man.
My aunt replied, with some asperity
that she would not. Filippo's imprc
cations had prejudiced us against thi:
honest gentleman.
A red cloud of anger flushed his darl
face at the refusal, though not mus
Gle moved When we promised to visi
the sick boy, and asked his street ant
number, he tried first to evade thu
question, and then to discourage us
but at length gave us direction whicl
we suspected was false. 1t was false
it led us to the palace of cardinal.
But strange to say, not five minutes
walk from the great house, we stun
blcd upon our little friend, pale anC
languid, sitting in a patch of sunshine
with his curly head leaning against tn
crumbling wall.
He smiled brightly at sight of us
and, after some hesitation, took us t,
his miserable home. His mother wa
wan little woman, who sewed unceas
ingly all the time we were there, Will
Lii, the baby, played amid the squalo
and dirt, like pure little flower bloom
ing on a dust heap. Every day W
went to see Filippo, my aunt's interes
in him constantly increasing. Sh
took him dainties, and bought hir
clothes and shoes / believe she cor
templated taking him back to Vel
mont with us, for she asked his mothe
if she would give him away. He woul
look in her face with his big, beautifr
eyes, and kiss her hard hands an
lcathery cheeks with a fondness an
devotion that would have made an in
preston on much colder heart tina
my Aunt Betsey's. l began to look o
him with disfavor, but dared not say
word.
When we went 70 Tivol, or too
other long excursions, the little invali
was invariably invited to accompan
us and occupy the third seat in our ca
riage. 1t was queer, swinging alta
in Roman cabs, and decidedly uncon
Portable. AS soon as we were Outsit
the walls, Twas invariably requested /
my aunt to change seats with FilipI
so that he might lean back costly, al
have all the benefit possible from Il
fresh air. / confess that felt decide
ly ill-natured over this state of affairs
One day my aunt planned an excu
sion to st. Paul's--a beautiful churC
on the dreaded Campagna; we were
take in the Protestant cemetery al
some other sights by the way, so ca
riage was engaged and Filippo was i
vitcd. Having been notified the d;
before, he met us at our own door, al
handed us in with grand air tn
, seemed natural to him.
As we drove through the Piaz
Colonna, we stopped for letters at {
post-oflice. There were three; one fire.